What are the most beautiful villages in Vaucluse? I am delighted to take you back to the Luberon to discover the most beautiful villages in Vaucluse, including my 5 favorites. The department has no fewer than seven villages listed as “most beautiful villages in France.” I have chosen five that I particularly liked and wanted to show you… So let’s set off to visit the most beautiful villages in Vaucluse: Vénasque, Lourmarin, Gordes, Ansouis and Roussillon!
Also read :
Visit Gordes : A Local’s Itinerary in Gordes Beautiful Region
A Local’s Itinerary to Visit Ochres of Provence
A Guide to Lavender Fields in Provence : Map & Photo Spots
VISIT THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES IN VAUCLUSE – PRACTICAL TIPS
How to get there ?
By car: Gordes is located 50 minutes east of Avignon and north of Salon-de-Provence. Roussillon is 15 minutes east of Gordes and Vénasque is 20 minutes north. Lourmarin is 35 minutes from Roussillon, halfway between Roussillon and Aix-en-Provence. Ansouis is 30 minutes from Aix and 10 minutes from Lourmarin. Rent a car here is you need to.
By train: The villages of Vaucluse are best visited by car, as this offers much more freedom. The most accessible train stations are Avignon Centre and Avignon TGV (50 minutes away), as they provide quick connections to Marseille, Lyon, and Paris. You can then rent a car to visit the villages.
By plane: Gordes and Roussillon are 1 hour from Marseille Provence Airport, and Lourmarin is 50 minutes away.
Where to stay to visit the most beautiful villages in Vaucluse?
Here are several accommodation suggestions near Gordes, which is a central location to explore the most beautiful villages in Vaucluse.
MAISON PRIVÉE A GORDES
- Typical house
- With a pool and a view
- From €140
HÔTEL CARCARILLE
- Magnificent & calm setting
- Close to Gordes
- From €180
LES AIRELLES LA BASTIDE GORDES
- The jewel of Gordes
- Rated 9,8 out of 10
- From €700
How long does it take to see the most beautiful villages in Vaucluse?
What to bring back from the most beautiful villages in Vaucluse?
Regional products are often lavender-based (essential oils, mists and perfumes, soaps, honey, etc.) or olive-based. You’ll find them at the Sénanque Abbey shop, for example. The monks make their own products. In Lourmarin, try the Gibassier, an aniseed cake that resembles a star anise. The Oreillettes de Vénasque are also delicious! You can also taste the cherries from the Monts de Vénasque, fresh or prepared, particularly in the form of berlingots, a specialty of Carpentras. Finally, Roussillon offers many products related to ochre, including pottery and pigments.
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES IN VAUCLUSE: VÉNASQUE, THE HILLTOP VILLAGE
Among the most beautiful villages in Vaucluse is Vénasque… I fell in love with this small, discreet village, which is much less touristy than other beautiful villages in Vaucluse, but just as photogenic. Its location is rather unusual, as it is perched on top of a cliff overlooking the wine-growing and tree-covered valleys of Vaucluse.
From a distance, you can see a string of stone buildings scattered along the crest of a long rocky ridge. On its slopes, shrubs and vines mingle with cork oaks and cherry trees, the kings of the region. Did you know that cherries are the red gold of the department? There is even a label for “Monts de Vénasque cherries”!
At the end of the winding road that climbs up to Vénasque, you will arrive at the pretty village church. Its light-colored stone and bell tower set the tone for the rest of the visit. Vénasque is bright and faithful to Provençal traditions! The church is also known for its baptistery, which dates back to the 11th century.
From this small square, narrow streets wind their way through the village. The stone buildings are magnificent and remarkably well preserved, embellished with light-colored shutters. Here and there, a vine, a laurel or an olive tree invades the facade of a house and sometimes even the arches of the ground floor. Numerous cul-de-sacs, such as Impasse Saint-Paul, are little havens of peace in the heart of the village, which is already very relaxing. Make the most of it and lose yourself in these narrow streets!
You will always find your way back to the center of the village, where an imposing fountain stands. Its gargoyles spout water. It’s hard to imagine that until 1960, this fountain was the village’s only source of water!
Right next to the fountain, as you pass through the porch of the Grand Rue, you’ll discover a bird’s-eye view of the valley below. A little further on, you can admire the three Saracen towers of Vénasque. These imposing towers were built in medieval times to protect the village from the Saracens. The esplanade surrounding them also offers a superb view of Mont Ventoux and the Comtat Venaissin.
And if you want to extend your walk in Vénasque a little longer, stop at the bakery on the fountain square to enjoy a delicious fougasse with olives and orange blossom oreillettes for dessert… We promise you’ll love these specialties that smell of Provence!
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES IN VAUCLUSE: LOURMARIN, THE ARTISAN VILLAGE
Lourmarin has a very different character from Vénasque, but it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful villages in Vaucluse. I loved its artistic, chic, yet slightly bohemian atmosphere. It is also the only one of these five villages in Vaucluse that is not perched on a hilltop!
The exposed stonework that I love so much covers far fewer houses in Lourmarin than in Vénasque, but the charm of this “most beautiful village in France” truly lies in its spirit. Lively and bustling, Lourmarin is full of cafés, craft shops, and boutiques nestled in the village’s pretty vaulted cellars. The atmosphere is more chic, but still a little bohemian. A gentle Provençal lifestyle that charmed Albert Camus, who is buried in the cemetery in Lourmarin.
Stroll through the narrow streets to discover the three bell towers of the town! The streets of Lourmarin are built around the central belfry, like a snail. Each street is lined with houses with blue, white, or burgundy shutters and decorated with rose bushes or oleanders. And if you need a break, the squares shaded by plane trees often hide moss-covered fountains. There are fountains everywhere in the village!
Also worth discovering in Lourmarin is its castle with its striking architecture and rectangular towers. It is said to be the first Renaissance castle in Provence, with some medieval features, which make it truly unique.
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES IN VAUCLUSE: GORDES, THE TIMELESS VILLAGE
Undoubtedly the best known and perhaps the most beautiful village in Vaucluse, Gordes is a real picture-postcard village. Emprunt With its timeless charm, Gordes dominates the Luberon valley. Its unusual location allows you to admire the entire hill on which it is perched! From a distance, the view is magnificent and you can see the houses clinging to the cliff. However, you can’t see all the pretty little streets that wind their way through the town, the ones that I fell in love with!
The top of the hill, crowned by the castle, is overrun with tourists eager to discover this typical village. You have to take the sloping streets to discover the peaceful corners of the village, where time seems to have stood still. The old sun-drenched stones are frozen in time, and oleanders and yews invade the hanging gardens. It’s a true ode to poetry and contemplation, which so appealed to Chagall, Ronnis, and Vasarely in their day.
Its beautiful houses are the stuff of dreams and may seem too perfect to some, perhaps not authentic enough. But you need to dig deeper to discover its underground passages, where much of village life once took place. You can still visit the cellars of the Palais Saint-Firmin, a must-see in Gordes! Imagine, the troglodyte cellars extended over seven levels!
Don’t hesitate to explore the lower town of Gordes either. It really has some lovely surprises in store. An old wash house, an ancient tree, an old stone wall that looks ready to collapse… It’s all these little details that I loved about Gordes.
While Gordes is a real gem, its surroundings are just as rich. A few miles away, you can discover an important part of Provençal history at the village of Les Bories. This village of dry stone huts was rebuilt after decades of work to reflect local life in the 19th century.
Right next door, you can discover (early in the morning!) the wonderful Sénanque Abbey, an old Cistercian abbey dating back to 1148. Surrounded by lavender fields in summer, it is a picture-postcard image of the region. A visit inside also invites contemplation and meditation. A small island of calm and simplicity, just like this magnificent department. To discover these wonders, check out my article Visit Gordes : A Local’s Itinerary in Gordes Beautiful Region
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES IN VAUCLUSE: ROUSSILLON, THE COLORFUL VILLAGE
I loved this unmissable village, known for its fabulous colors. Roussillon is a small colorful island overlooking the plain and the ochre quarries—the largest ochre deposit in Europe. Its unique hues are magnified at sunset, when the whole village is ablaze. If you have the choice, definitely go at the end of the day!
Roussillon has a completely different feel to Gordes, with smooth, colorful walls, although a few red stone walls remain in places. As in many Provençal villages, the church and its bell tower are located at the top of the village, overlooking the small houses of Roussillon. The narrow streets around the church are full of charm, sometimes overgrown with vegetation.
What did I like most about Roussillon? The shades of red and orange that adorn the houses. No two houses are alike, with a wide variety of shades from yellow to red. This small village looks like a patchwork of sunny colors that lights up the region! Roussillon is therefore a must-see among the most beautiful villages in Vaucluse!
Right next door, you can explore the Roussillon Ochre Trail, a lovely walk through the old quarries. A little further on are the Bruoux ochre mines, which are also open to visitors, as well as the sublime Colorado Provençal, which you can also discover in my article to visit Ochres of Provence.
To discover the villages of Lourmarin, Gordes, and Roussillon on video, visit the website of the TV show Le Village préféré des Français!
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES IN VAUCLUSE : ANSOUIS, THE MEDIEVAL VILLAGE
The last village on our list of the most beautiful villages in Vaucluse is Ansouis, located just a stone’s throw from Lourmarin. This charming hilltop village is dominated by an imposing thousand-year-old castle, which has been completely restored and is open to visitors!
It’s lovely to stroll through the village’s cobbled streets, admire the bell towers, and enjoy the panoramic views of the surrounding area! Ansouis is surrounded by olive trees and vineyards, and you can even visit some of the vineyards if you want to taste the local wines.
WHAT TO DO IN THE SURROUNDING AREA OF VAUCLUSE?
Here are some other beautiful villages in Vaucluse to discover in the surrounding area, as well as a few must-see sites!
– Ansouis (15 minutes from Lourmarin): another village in Vaucluse that is one of the “most beautiful villages in France.” Let yourself be transported back in time around the castle and the surrounding walls…
– The ochre quarries in Bruoux (20 minutes away): the guided tour through these former ochre mines is fascinating! You’ll discover the depths of these orange caves with interesting historical and geological explanations. A must-see in the region, which I describe in my article on the ochres of Provence – price: €8.
– Ménerbes (15 minutes from Gordes): this village in Vaucluse is just as perched as the ones I’ve just shown you! It is the sixth village in Vaucluse to be awarded the “Most Beautiful Village in France” label in the south of the department. A village for lovers of old stones and vineyards, where you can also visit the Lavender Museum.
– The Claparèdes plateau (between Roussillon and Lourmarin): this magnificent plateau is completely colored purple in July! It is one of the prettiest places to my Guide to Lavender Fields in Provence! The fields are also dotted with bories, some of which are almost in ruins: a real Provençal postcard.
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